Fishgold v. Sullivan Drydock & Repair Corp. 328 U.S. 275 (1946)

U.S. Supreme Court

Fishgold v. Sullivan Drydock & Repair Corp., 328 U.S. 275 (1946)

Fishgold v. Sullivan Drydock & Repair Corp.

No. 970

Argued May 6, 1946

Decided May 27, 1946

328 U.S. 275

CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

Syllabus

After serving in the Army and receiving an honorable discharge, petitioner was reinstated in his former position pursuant to § 8(a) of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. Subsequently, when there was not enough work to keep all employees busy, he was laid off temporarily on nine days while nonveterans with higher shop seniorities were permitted to work, but he was given work when enough became available. He sued for a declaratory judgment as to his rights under the Act, and to obtain compensation for the days that he was laid off. The union intervened and alleged in its answer that the employer's action was in accordance with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement,

and was not a violation of the Act. The District Court held that petitioner was laid off in violation of the Act, and gave him a money judgment for the loss of wages. Only the union appealed.

Held:

1. The Circuit Court of Appeals had jurisdiction of the appeal, since the union's answer put in issue the question whether there was a conflict between the collective bargaining agreement and the Act and, if so, which one prevailed. That issue, being adjudicated with the union and the employer as parties, would have been res judicata as to the union had it not appealed. Pp. 328 U. S. 281-284.

2. The temporary "lay-off" of petitioner while other employees with higher shop seniorities were permitted to work did not violate § 8 of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. Pp. 328 U. S. 284-291.

(a) Sections 8(b) and (c) do not grant a veteran an increase in seniority over what he would have had if he had never entered the armed services. P. 328 U. S. 285.

(b) An employee who has been laid off in accordance with a seniority system and put on a waiting list for reassignment has not been "discharged" within the meaning of § 8(c), which forbids the discharge of a reemployed veteran without cause within one year. Pp. 328 U. S. 286-287.

(c) Nothing in the legislative history of the Act indicates a purpose to accord a veteran the right to work when, by operation of the seniority system, there is none available for him. P. 328 U. S. 289.

(d) The fact that, when Congress amended § 8 of the Act in 1944 and extended the Act in 1945 without any change in § 8, it was apprised of an administrative interpretation by the Director of Selective Service that a veteran was entitled to his job regardless of seniority is not controlling -- especially when the National War Labor Board has given § 8(c) a different construction in handling disputes arising out of the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. Pp. 328 U. S. 289-291.

3. Administrative interpretations of the Act by the Director of Selective Service may be resorted to for guidance, but, not being made in adversary proceedings, they are not entitled to the weight which is accorded administrative interpretations by administrative agencies entrusted with the responsibility of making inter partes decisions. P. 328 U. S. 290.

154 F.2d 785, affirmed.

Petitioner sued under 8(e) of the Selective Training and Service Act to obtain a declaratory judgment as to his

rights under the Act and compensation for the days he was laid off from work. The District Court refused the declaratory judgment, but gave petitioner a money judgment for the loss of wages. 62 F.Supp. 25. The Circuit Court of Appeals reversed. 154 F.2d 785. This Court granted certiorari. 327 U.S. 775. Affirmed, p. 328 U. S. 291.

MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of the Court.

Petitioner is an employee of the Sullivan Drydock & Repair Corporation. He entered its employ in 1942, and

worked for it at a shipyard until he was inducted into the Army in 1943. He served in the Army a little over a year, and was honorably discharged and received a certificate to that effect. He had worked for the corporation as a welder, and, after his tour of duty in the Army ended, he was still qualified to perform the duties of a welder. Within forty days of his discharge, he applied to the corporation, as was his right under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, 54 Stat. 885, 50 U.S.C.Appendix, § 301 et seq., for restoration to his former position, [Footnote 1] He was reemployed as a welder on August 25, 1944.

The Corporation and Local 13 of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America had a collective bargaining agreement which provided: [Footnote 2]

"Promotions and reclassifications and increases or decreases in the working force shall be based upon length of service and ability to do the job. Wherever, between two or more men, ability is fairly equal, length of service shall be the controlling factor."

As work at the shipyard decreased, men would be laid off. The men selected by the foremen, on the basis of ability and seniority, to be laid off would report to a department head for reassignment on the basis of their relative seniority when work became available. On each of nine days in the spring of 1945, petitioner was laid off although other welders, not veterans of the recent war, possessing the same or similar skill as petitioner, were given work on those days. These men were preferred because they had a higher shop seniority than petitioner. The decision to lay off petitioner followed a decision of an arbitrator who ruled that the seniority provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, which we have quoted, required it, and

that they were not inconsistent with the provisions of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940.

Thereupon, petitioner brought this suit pursuant to § 8(e) of the Act [Footnote 3] to obtain a declaratory judgment as to his rights under the Act and to obtain compensation for the days he was not allowed to work. The corporation answered, justifying its action by the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement and the decision of the arbitrator. The union was permitted to intervene. [Footnote 4] It alleged in its answer that the action of the corporation was warranted by the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, and was not in violation of the Act. The District Court refused the declaratory judgment requested,

but entered a money judgment for petitioner for the loss of wages during the nine days in question. 62 F.Supp. 25. It held that petitioner was laid off in violation of the Act. It was also of the view that the collective bargaining agreement was not inconsistent with the Act. Only the union appealed. The Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, one judge dissenting. 154 F.2d 785. It held that the Act did not give petitioner the preference which he claimed, and that the terms of the collective bargaining agreement justified the corporation's action. The case is here on a petition for a writ of certiorari which we granted because of the importance of the question presented.

I. We are met at the outset with the claim that the union had no appealable interest in the judgment entered by the District Court, and accordingly that the Circuit Court of Appeals lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. It is pointed out that a money judgment was entered only against the corporation, and that no relief was granted against the union. It is therefore argued that the judgment did not affect any substantive right of the union, and that, at most, the union had merely an interest in the outcome of litigation which might establish a precedent adverse to it. Boston Tow Boat Co. v. United States,321 U. S. 632. It is also pointed out that the statutory guarantee against discharge without cause for one year [Footnote 5] had

expired at the time of the District Court's judgment, that therefore no declaratory relief was granted, and that petitioner's rights for the future were not adjudicated. It is contended that the dispute between petitioner and the union has thus become moot.

But that argument misses the point. The answer of the corporation and the union put in issue the question whether there was a conflict between the collective bargaining agreement and the Act, and, if so, which one prevailed. The parties to the collective bargaining agreement -- the union and the corporation -- were before the court. A decision on the merits of petitioner's claim necessarily involved a reconciliation between the Act and the collective bargaining agreement, or, if it appeared that they conflicted, an adjudication that one superseded the other. As we have noted, the District Court was of the view that the collective bargaining agreement was not inconsistent with the Act. But, however the result might be rationalized, a decision for or against petitioner necessarily involved a construction of the collective bargaining agreement. That issue was adjudicated, with the union as a party. Hence, if the union had thereafter instituted a separate suit for an interpretation of the agreement, it would be met with the plea of res judicata. And that plea would be sustained, for the prior decision was on the precise point which the union sought to relitigate, and was adverse to the union. And both parties to the agreement -- the union and the corporation -- were parties to the prior suit. This elementary principle has long been recognized. Black, The Law of Judgments (2d ed.) pp. 764, 821, 936. As stated in Cromwell v. County of Sac,94 U. S. 351, 94 U. S. 352, a prior judgment

"is a finality as to the claim or demand in controversy, concluding parties and those in privity with them not only as to every matter which was offered and received to sustain or defeat the claim or demand, but as to any other admissible matter

And see Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co.,263 U. S. 413, 263 U. S. 415; Grubb v. Public Utilities Commission,281 U. S. 470, 281 U. S. 479; Stoll v. Gottieb,305 U. S. 165; Chicot County Drainage Dist. v. Baxter State Bank,308 U. S. 371, 308 U. S. 375, 305 U. S. 378. The case of Boston Tow Boat Co. v. United States, supra, would be relevant if the collective bargaining agreement in issue was one between different parties. [Footnote 6] Then, the union's interest would be merely the interest of one seeking reversal of an adverse precedent. And its "independent right to relief" would not be increased by reason of its intervention in the cause. Alexander Sprunt & Son v. United States,281 U. S. 249, 281 U. S. 255. But here, the rights of the union and its members under a contract with the corporation were adjudicated in a proceeding in which the union was a party. The contract was still in existence at the time of the appeal. Hence, the case was not moot. And the only way the union could protect itself against that binding interpretation of the agreement was by an appeal. For then, the union found itself in the position where a right of its own (Alexander Sprunt & Son v. United States, supra, p. 281 U. S. 255) was adjudicated. [Footnote 7]

It is suggested, however, that the result of what we do is to free the union and the employer from costs, and burden Fishgold with them. There are several answers to that. The allowance of costs has no bearing on what

is or what is not res judicata. Their allowance to the prevailing party is not, moreover, a rigid rule. Under the Rules of Civil Procedure, the court can direct otherwise. Rule 54(d). And, finally, Congress has provided in § 8(e) of this Act that, when a veteran applies to the District Court for the benefits of the Ac,t "no fees or court costs shall be taxed" against him.

II. We turn then to the merits. The Act was designed to protect the veteran in several ways. He who was called to the colors was not to be penalized on his return by reason of his absence from his civilian job. He was, moreover, to gain by his service for his country an advantage which the law withheld from those who stayed behind.

These guarantees are contained in § 8 of the Act, [Footnote 8] and extend to a veteran, honorably discharged and still qualified to perform the duties of his old position. (1) He has a stated period of time in which to apply for reemployment. [Footnote 9] § 8(b). He is not pressed for a decision immediately on his discharge, but has the opportunity to make plans for the future and readjust himself to civilian life. (2) He must be restored to his former position "or to a position of like seniority, status, and pay." § 8(b)(A), (B). He is thus protected against receiving a job inferior to that which he had before entering the armed services. (3) He shall be "restored without loss of seniority," and be considered "as having been on furlough or leave of absence" during the period of his service for his country, with all of the insurance and other benefits accruing to employees on furlough or leave of absence. § 8(c). Thus, he does not step back on the seniority escalator at the point he stepped off. He steps back on at the precise

point he would have occupied had he kept his position continuously during the war. (4) He "shall not be discharged from such position without cause within one year after such restoration." § 8(c).

Petitioner's case comes down to the meaning of this guarantee against "discharge." "Discharge" is construed by him to include "lay-off." And it is earnestly argued that Congress could not have intended to restore the veteran to his position, prevent his discharge without cause for one year, and yet not intend that he perform actual work if it was available.

This legislation is to be liberally construed for the benefit of those who left private life to serve their country in its hour of great need. See Boone v. Lightner,319 U. S. 561, 319 U. S. 575. And no practice of employers or agreements between employers and unions can cut down the service adjustment benefits which Congress has secured the veteran under the Act. Our problem is to construe the separate provisions of the Act as parts of an organic whole, and give each as liberal a construction for the benefit of the veteran as a harmonious interplay of the separate provisions permits.

We can find no support for petitioner's position in the provision of § 8(b) which restores him to his former position or to a "position of like seniority." Nor can we find it in § 8(c), which directs that he "shall be so restored without loss of seniority." As we have said, these provisions guarantee the veteran against loss of position or loss of seniority by reason of his absence. He acquires not only the same seniority he had; his service in the armed services is counted as service in the plant, so that he does not lose ground by reason of his absence. But we would distort the language of these provisions if we read it as granting the veteran an increase in seniority over what he would have had if he had never entered the armed services.

We agree with the Circuit Court of Appeals that, by these provisions, Congress made the restoration as nearly a complete substitute for the original job as was possible. No step-up or gain in priority can be fairly implied. Congress protected the veteran against loss of ground or demotion on his return. The provisions for restoration without loss of seniority to his old position or to a position of like seniority mean no more.

Nor can we read into the guarantee against discharge "from such position" a gain or step-up in seniority. That guarantee does not, in terms, deal with the seniority problem. The problem of seniority is covered by the preceding provisions. The guarantee against discharge "from such position" is broad enough to cover demotions. The veteran is entitled to be restored to his old position or to a "position of like seniority, status, and pay." If, within the statutory period, he is demoted, his status, which the Act was designed to protect, has been affected, and the old employment relationship has been changed. He would then lose his old position, and acquire an inferior one. He would, within the meaning of § 8(c), be "discharged from such position." But the guarantee against discharge does not, on its face, suggest the grant of a preference to the veteran over and above that which was accorded by the seniority of "such position."

Discharge normally means termination of the employment relationship or loss of a position. [Footnote 10] In common parlance and in industrial parlance, a person who has been laid off by operation of a seniority system and put on a waiting list for reassignment would hardly be considered

as having been "discharged." [Footnote 11] There are three terms used in § 8(c) which relate to various types of cessation of work -- a "furlough," a "leave of absence," and a discharge. A furlough is not considered a discharge. It is a form of lay-off. So is a leave of absence. And, whether either results from unilateral action by the employer or otherwise, consequences are quite different from termination of the employment relationship. Section 8(c) of the Act recognizes that insurance and other benefits may continue to accrue to an employee on furlough or on leave of absence. An employee on furlough or on leave of absence has a continuing relationship with the employer; he retains a right to be restored to work under specified conditions. [Footnote 12] Thus, when Congress desired to cover the contingency of a lay-off, it used apt words to describe it. If it had desired to enact that, so long as there was work, no restored veteran, regardless of seniority, could be temporarily laid off during the year following his restoration, when the slackening of work required a reduction in forces, we are bound to believe that it would have used a word of the kind which it had itself recognized as being descriptive of that situation.

The "position" to which the veteran is restored is the "position" which he left plus cumulated seniority. Certainly he would not have been discharged from such position

and unable to get it back if, at the time of his induction into the armed services, he had been laid off by operation of a seniority system. Plainly ,he still had his "position" when he was inducted. And, in the same sense, he retains it though a lay-off interrupts the continuity of work in the statutory period. Moreover, a veteran, on his return, is entitled to his old "position" or its equivalent even though, at the time of his application, the plant is closed down, say, for retooling, and no work is available, unless, of course, the private employer's "circumstances have so changed as to make it impossible or unreasonable" to restore him. § 8(b)(B). He is entitled to be recalled to work in accordance with his seniority. His "position" exists though no work is then available. The slackening of work which causes him to be laid off by operation of a seniority system is neither a removal or dismissal or discharge from the "position" in any normal sense. Congress recognized in the Act the existence of seniority systems and seniority rights. It sought to preserve the veteran's rights under those systems, and to protect him against loss under them by reason of his absence. There is indeed no suggestion that Congress sought to sweep aside the seniority system. What it undertook to do was to give the veteran protection within the framework of the seniority system, plus a guarantee against demotion or termination of the employment relationship without cause for a year.

The construction which we have given "discharged" does not rob that guarantee of vitality. As the Circuit Court of Appeals observed, where there is a closed shop agreement, the union would normally afford its members protection against termination of their employment status without cause. But, in many situations, the guarantee against dismissal without cause for one year is of great

Our construction of the Act finds support in its legislative history. Representative May had charge of the bill on the floor of the House. He explained an amendment to § 8(c), which added the words "shall be considered during the period of service in such forces as on furlough or leave of absence," and also elaborated the clause dealing with "insurance or other benefits." He said:

"I may say that the chief purpose of the amendment is to preserve the seniority rights of the thousands and hundreds of thousands of railroad employees and other employees of that character who have certain seniority privileges on the railroads. In other words, we put them on furlough during the time they are in the service, and they will even be permitted to count this time on the question of their retirement."

86 Cong.Rec. 11702. And, before that amendment, the committee Report of the Senate stated:

"The Congress, in this bill, has declared as its purpose and intent that every man who leaves his job to participate in this training and service should be reemployed without loss of seniority or other benefits upon his return to civil life"

S.Rep. No. 2002, 76th Cong., 3d Sess., p. 8.

We have searched the legislative history in vain for any statement of purpose that the protection accorded the veteran was the right to work when, by operation of the seniority system, there was none then available for him.

It is said, however, that, when Congress amended § 8 of the Act in 1944, [Footnote 13] (58 Stat. 798) and extended the Act in 1945 without any change in § 8(c) (59 Stat. 166), it was apprised of an administrative interpretation of § 8(c) that

a veteran was entitled to his former job regardless of seniority, and that, therefore, Congressional approval of or acquiescence in the administrative construction would be inferred. See Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. United States,288 U. S. 269, 288 U. S. 273, and cases cited. An administrative interpretation was rendered by the Director of Selective Service, who was authorized to administer the Act. [Footnote 14] He had ruled that the Act required reinstatement of a veteran to

"his former position or one of like seniority, status, and pay, even though such reinstatement necessitates the discharge of a nonveteran with a greater seniority. [Footnote 15]"

But a different construction was given to § 8(c) by the National War Labor Board in its handling of disputes arising out of the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. [Footnote 16] The Board read the Act as we read it. The ruling of the Director may be resorted to for guidance. See Skidmore v. Swift & Co.,323 U. S. 134, 323 U. S. 140; Mabee v. White Plains Pub. Co.,327 U. S. 178. But his rulings are not made in adversary proceedings, and are not entitled to the weight which is accorded interpretations by administrative agencies entrusted with the responsibility of making inter partes decisions. Skidmore v. Swift & Co., supra, p. 323 U. S. 139. The history and language of the Act would need be far less clear for us to give his rulings persuasive weight. Moreover, as the Circuit Court of Appeals pointed out, the contrariety of administrative rulings [Footnote 17] lends less credence to the contention that Congress, by the amendment in 1944 and the extension in 1945, showed a preference for one over the other. In view of the language of the Act and the nature of the

"SEC. 8(a) Any person inducted into the land or naval forces under this Act for training and service, who, in the judgment of those in authority over him, satisfactorily completes his period of training and service under section 3(b) shall be entitled to a certificate to that effect upon the completion of such period of training and service, which shall include a record of any special proficiency or merit attained. . . ."

"(b) In the case of any such person who, in order to perform such training and service, has left or leaves a position, other than a temporary position, in the employ of any employer and who (1) receives such certificate, (2) is still qualified to perform the duties of such position, and (3) makes application for reemployment within forty days after he is relieved from such training and service -- "

"(A) if such position was in the employ of the United States Government, its Territories or possessions, or the District of Columbia, such person shall be restored to such position or to a position of like seniority, status, and pay;"

"(B) if such position was in the employ of a private employer, such employer shall restore such person to such position or to a position of like seniority, status, and pay unless the employer's circumstances have so changed as to make it impossible or unreasonable to do so. . . ."

The forty-day period has been extended to ninety days. Section 8(b), as amended in 1944, 58 Stat. 798, gives the veteran a right to be reemployed if he makes application

"within ninety days after he is relieved from such training and service or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for a period of not more than one year."

"Any employee other than a probationary employee who is drafted or volunteers for the Naval, Military, or Merchant Marine Service of the United States shall retain his seniority standing. In any further determination of said employee's seniority status, the length of time spent by the employee in such service shall count toward his seniority as if he were actually and continuously employed by the Company. Any such employee who volunteers or is drafted must give the Company notice of his intention to so leave his employment. Any such employee who, within forty (40) days after his release or discharge from said service, applies for reemployment shall be rehired by the Company, provided work is available and the employee is reasonably fit for duty. Availability for work will be determined according to accumulated seniority and ability. If reemployed, said employee shall then receive the then current rate of pay for the job for which he is reemployed."

"In case any private employer fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of subsection (b) or subsection (c), the district court of the United States for the district in which such private employer maintains a place of business shall have power, upon the filing of a motion, petition, or other appropriate pleading by the person entitled to the benefits of such provisions, to specifically require such employer to comply with such provisions, and, as an incident thereto, to compensate such person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by reason of such employer's unlawful action. The court shall order a speedy hearing in any such case, and shall advance it on the calendar. Upon application to the United States district attorney or comparable official for the district in which such private employer maintains a place of business, by any person claiming to be entitled to the benefits of such provisions, such United States district attorney or official, if reasonably satisfied that the person so applying is entitled to such benefits, shall appear and act as attorney for such person in the amicable adjustment of the claim or in the filing of any motion, petition, or other appropriate pleading and the prosecution thereof to specifically require such employer to comply with such provisions: Provided, That no fees or court costs shall be taxed against the person so applying for such benefits."

The United States appeared as amicus curiae in the Circuit Court of Appeals. It appears in this Court as representative of petitioner by reason of the provisions of § 8(e).

Permissive intervention is governed by Rule 24(b) of the Rules of Civil Procedure, which allows it on timely application "when an applicant's claim or defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common."

"Any person who is restored to a position in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b) shall be considered as having been on furlough or leave of absence during his period of active military service, shall be so restored without loss of seniority, shall be entitled to participate in insurance or other benefits offered by the employer pursuant to established rules and practices relating to employees on furlough or leave of absence in effect with the employer at the time such person was ordered into such service, and shall not be discharged from such position without cause within one year after such restoration."

Paragraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b) of § 8 are set forth in note 1supra.

In that case, Boston Tow Boat Co. intervened in a proceeding before the Interstate Commerce Commission involving the status of another carrier. It sought to appeal from the adverse decision against the other carrier. That right was denied. The order in question was not determinative of the status of Boston Tow Boat Co. That question was involved in another order of the Commission, from which Boston Tow Boat Co. had an appeal pending.

The case is therefore closely analogous to one where the interest of an intervenor in property involved in the litigation was adjudicated. Dexter Horton Nat. Bank v. Hawkins, 190 F. 924; United States v. Northwestern Development Co., 203 F. 960.

"A period during which a workman is temporarily dismissed or allowed to leave his work; that part or season of the year during which activity in a particular business or game is partly or completely suspended; an off-season."

I believe we should reverse the judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals and remand the cause to it with directions to dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction because the Union was not a proper party to appeal. The money judgment was in favor of Fishgold and against the Sullivan Dry Dock and Repair Company. Had the Company paid the judgment, I see no way in which the Union would have been "aggrieved." The only reason advanced by the Court for holding that the Union was "aggrieved" is that, had the District Court judgment remained on the books, the judicially formulated doctrine of res adjudicata would have barred the Union in any future proceedings from challenging the District Court's application of the federal statute to the particular collective bargaining agreement. A fair application of res judicata bars a party in a second litigation only if that proceeding involves the same issues as the first litigation between the same adverse parties or privies. This means that res judicata could bar the Union only in a new proceeding between it and Fishgold or his privies. But there is no possibility of such litigation, since the seniority right which the District Court held Fishgold had under the statute had, under its provisions, expired by the time the Union appealed. Res judicata would not have barred the Union in a proceeding between it and any other party, since no other party was

a party adverse to the Union in the present suit. And this includes any possible proceeding between the Union and the Sullivan Dry Dock Company, since that Company, though a party, was not an adverse party in the trial court. None of the cases cited by the Court's opinion supports the proposition that a party is bound in a future litigation against a party that was not an adverse party, but on the same side, in the earlier litigation. Nor do these cases, or any other decision of this Court of which I am aware, formulate as the rule of this Court the harsh doctrine of collateral estoppel, adopted in a few state jurisdictions, which always bars a losing party, so long as the issue is the same, even though the later litigation involves different adverse parties. It is unlikely that this harsh doctrine, never adopted by this Court, would in the future have been applied to bar the Union, in any further proceedings involving interpretation of the scope of its collective bargaining agreement in the light of the federal statute. In my opinion, the Union would not have been barred by the trial court's judgment. It was therefore not an aggrieved party, and not entitled to appeal.

The result of permitting parties not adversely affected to appeal a judgment is to impose burdens upon litigants actually interested when those litigants may themselves be fully satisfied with the judgment. The scope of res judicata should not be extended to produce such a result. This case illustrates the wisdom of the practice which permits parties to settle their own lawsuits without intervention by others interested only in precedents. Boston Towboat Co. v. United States,321 U. S. 632.

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